Journal box lid



G. A. WOODMAN JOURNAL BOX LID Filed Oct. 26, 1954 7 Nov. 10, 1936.

Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to journal .box lids of .the kind used to close the open side of journal boxes on railway equipment and the like, and the primary object .of my invention is to forcibly hold thelidin closing position.

Further objects are to facilitate the installa tion.and.removal of a journal box lid to thereby expedite replacement of those parts of the journal box lid which have been found in past experience most likely to be damaged or broken; to exert powerful spring pressure upon the lid to maintain it in closing position; to distribute the spring pressure and prevent canting of .the lid on the box; to afford replacement of those parts most subject to breakage without .the useof tools; to enableinstallation and removalof the lid from the box without the use of special tools; and to provide a novel journal box lid of simple and economical construction and which will be efficient and positive in use.

.A selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. .1 isa front elevation in which certain parts are broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and showing the lid in closing position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the lid in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 44 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a spring and the lever used in the lid.

In the drawing I have shown my invention in a journal'box lid adapted to close the open side of the journal box 6. The lid includes a substantially flat plate 1 having a depending peripheral flange '8 at the edges thereof adapted to overlie the marginal portions of parts of the box 4 6 adjacent the opening therein. A handle 9 is providedxat the'lower edge of the plate I and this handle projects beyond the adjacent part of the flange 8 and may be grasped to pivot the lid to and y from closing position.

"A boss :ID on the top of thejournal box 6 near the open side thereof is located substantially midway'between theside edges of the box. The boss has medially located adjoining tapered surfaces 8' and 9 thereon and an opening I l therein in whichapintle-pinl2 is'journaled. Bosses I3 and.l4 are provided along theupper edge of the plate 1 near the side edges thereof and'these .bosseshave substantially elliptical openings l5 andlfi therein, the minor axis of which openings is substantially equal tovthe outside diameter of the pin l2-so that when the pin :12 is passed throughthe openings I5 and I6 and the opening H the plate 1 will besupported for pivotal movement relative to the open side of the'box 6. The major axis of the openings 15 and It is larger than-the. diameter of the pin. l2 and affordsselfadjustmentof the plate -'I so that it will tightly seat on the edges of the box 6 about the open sidethereof to prevent ingress of foreign matter into and egress of lubricant from the journal box.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, diametrically opposite openings l'l andl8 are provided in the boss I4 andakey I9 is passed through-these openings so as to extend across the opening 16. When the lid is installed the key 1-9 is arranged outwardly-of the adjacent end of the pin I2 so as to prevent axial-displacement ofsaid pin, a key being similarly :mounted in the boss [3 at the opposite end of the pin. The keys [9 and. 20 are preferably fiat strips of material and are passed through-the diametrically opposite openings in the bosses after which the projecting end portions of the keys are bent toward the boss in which they are mounted to thereby prevent displacement thereof. Thekeys may be hammered orotherwise bent over and therefore the pin 12 may be installed or removed Without the use of special "tools.

-My novel lid includes a hood, generally indicated by -2 I, whichhas side-walls 22 and .23 having bearings 24' and 25' therein and'these bearingsnare adapted'to be respectively arranged between the inner endsof the-bosses l3 and I4 and the adjacent ends of theboss l0 andthe pin 1 .I2 is passed therethrough topivotally support the hood on the pin 12.

A;pocket 23 is provided in the face of the plate "I and is located-substantially midway between the side edges of the plate and above the horizontal-center line'thereof. This pocket is-formed by depressing the ,plate I and the bottom of the pocket is preferablytapered. A hook .24 is-provided on the face of the plate I at the lower end ofthe pocket 23, which lower end isthe deepest part of said pocket.

A lever, illustratedin detail in Fig. 5 and generallyindicated by 25, is provided and includes a center rib 26. Arms 21 and 28 extend upwardly from'this rib and have rounded portions at the 5 freeendsthereof. The arm 29 extends downwardly from the rib 26 and is strengthened by a medially located reenforcing rib 30. The lower end of the arm .29 is-rolled to provide a bearing 3| which is cut away, as indicated at 32, to provide clearance about the slot 33 provided in the arm 29 near the lower end thereof. The center rib 26 is substantially concavo-convex in cross section and the concave face thereof provides a spring pocket 34.

A spring, generally indicated by 35, is preferably formed from a single piece of material to include parallel limbs 35 and 31 terminating in coiled portions 38 and 39 between which a substantially U-shaped part 49 is provided and a roller 4| is rotatably mounted on the bight of the part 40. The free ends of the limbs 36 and 31 are bent at right angles to the extent of the limbs and toward each other and are passed into opposite ends of the bearing 3|, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and in assembling the device after the end portions of the limbs have been arranged in the bearing 3| with the spring in the broken line position of Fig. 5 the spring is then swung upwardly to dispose the coiled portions 38 and 39 in the spring pocket 34 and to locate the roller 4| in alignment with the space between the arms 21 and 28 but below the upper ends of these arms.

In assembling the lid on a journal box the hood 2| is rested on the plate I with the bearings 24 and 25' in alignment with the bosses I3 and I4 and the hood and plate are then placed on the journal box with the bearings 24 and 25' located at opposite ends of the boss ID. The pin I2 is then inserted from either side as, for example, by first being passed through the opening I6, then through the bearing 24, opening II, bearing 25' and opening I5 and after this has been done the keys I9 and 29 are arranged in position to prevent displacement of the pin I2. Then the spring 35 and the lever 25 are assembled in the manner described and after the spring and lever are arranged in the full line position of Fig. 5 the hood 2| is swung into the broken line position of Fig. 2. The assembled lever and spring are then arranged in the broken line position of Fig. 2 with the hook 24 projecting through the slot 33, and it will be noted that the spring 35 is disposed toward the plate 1 and that the bearing 3| rests in the deep lower end of the pocket 23. Then the assembled spring and lever are pivoted about the hook 24 so that a part of the bearing 3| is looked under the hook and when this is done the roller 4| engages the forwardmost of the inclined surfaces on the boss [0. Now the hood 2| is pivoted toward the plate I and prior to the time the hood atttains its closing position it engages the rounded free ends of the arms 27 and 28 and during the remainder of the closing movement of the hood 2| the arms 21 and 28 are forced rearwardly which tensions the spring 35 and when the hood 2| attains closing position, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, the spring 35 is under appreciable tension, and it will be noted that the rounded portions of the free ends of the arms 21 and 28 engage the inner side of the hood 2| well above the pivot thereof with the result that the lower end of the hood 2| is forced into firm engagement with the plate I. The closing of the hood 2|, as stated, tensions the spring 35, that is to say, the closing of the hood 2| tends to force the bight of the part 49 inwardly which in turn tends to wind the coiled portions 38 and 39 and this winding tensions the limbs 36 and 31 which therefore exert force on the bearing 3| which is firmly forced into engagement with the plate I and since the bearing 3| is of appreciable extent the force of the spring is distributed throughout the lid to insure proper seating and to prevent canting thereof.

It will be noted that the distance from the bight of the part 40 of the spring to the center of the coiled portions 38 and 39 is relatively short Whereas the extent of the limbs 36 and 31 is long as compared with the extent of the U- shaped part 40 and this increases the leverage of the spring 35 which therefore exerts powerful pressure on the plate I to hold it in closing position.

When it is desired to open the lid the handle 9 is grasped and the lid is pivoted about the pin I2 and the roller 4| rides over the flattened surfaces on the boss I0, and when the lid is in wide open position the roller 4| engages the rear side of the boss I8 and firmly holds the lid in open position to facilitate inspection and lubrication or other work on the journal in the box 6.

In past experience it has been found that the spring which holds journal box lids in closing position is that part of the lid which most frequently requires replacement. In my novel journal box the spring may be replaced easily for all that need be done is to pivot the hood 2| into the broken line position of Fig. 2 whereupon both the spring and lever may be removed and the broken spring may then be replaced and the parts may then be reassembled in the manner previously described.

When it is necessary to replace a part of the lid which is pivoted on the pin I2 one of the bent parts of one or the other of the keys is straightened whereupon this key may be removed and after which the pin may be removed. No special tools are required to straighten or bend the pin and therefore those parts of the lid which are pivoted on the pin I2 may be replaced without the use of any special tools.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including a plate for closing the open side of said journal box. means pivotally connecting said plate to said bearing boss, and means for urging said plate into closing position over the open side of said journal box and embodying a spring, said spring including coiled portions and a part extending in one direc tion from said coiled portions and engaging said bearing boss and also including limbs extending from said coiled portions in a direction opposite to said part and across the front of said plate, the urging means also including a lever engaged with the coiled portions and pivotally connected to the limbs of said spring and including a pressure receiving part arranged in juxtaposed relation but spaced from said part of said spring, and said urging means also including means engageable with the pressure receiving part of said lever to exert pressure thereon and tension said spring whereby when the spring is tensioned said plate is urged into closing position over the open side of said box.

2. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including a plate for closing the open side of said journal box, means pivotally connecting said plate to said bearing boss, and means for holding said lid in closing position and including a spring embodying coiled portions and having a part extended from said coiled portions and engaging said bearing boss and also having limbs extending across the top of said plate, a lever having a part intermediate the ends thereof adapted to receive the coiled portions of said spring and having the limbs of said spring connected to one end thereof, and means engageable with the other end of said lever for applying pressure on said lever to force the part of said spring engaging the bearing boss toward the bearing boss whereby the limbs of said spring are tensioned to exert pressure through said lever on said plate to hold said plate in closing position.

3. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including a plate for I closing the open side of said journal box, means pivotally connecting said plate to said bearing boss, and means for holding said lid in closing position and including a spring embodying coiled portions and having a part extended from said coiled portions and engaging said bearing boss and also having limbs extending across the top of said plate, a lever having a part intermediate the ends thereof adapted to receive the coiled portions of said spring and having the limbs of said spring connected to one end thereof, and a hood pivotally mounted on the means connecting the plate and engageable with the other end of said lever above the pivotal mounting of the hood whereby when said hood is engaged with said plate said spring is tensioned and the limb portions of said spring hold said lid in closing position and act on said lever to hold said hood in plate engaging position.

4. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including a plate for closing the open side of said journal box, means pivotally connecting the plate to said bearing boss, a hood positioned over said plate and pivotal relative to the plate, means for holding said plate in closing position and including a lever having one end engaged with the plate and the other end engaged with the hood, and a spring including coiled portions engaged with said lever intermediate the ends of the lever and having a part engaged with the bearing boss below the end of the lever engaging the hood and having limbs engaged with the end of said lever engaging the plate, said hood urging said lever toward said plate and bearing boss when in closing position and tensioning said spring whereby said spring acts on said lever to hold said plate and said hood in closing position.

5. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including a plate for closing the open side of said journal box, means pivotally connecting the plate to said bearing boss, a hood positioned over said plate and pivotal relative to the plate, means for holding said plate in closing position and including a lever having one end engaged with the plate and the other end engaged with the hood, a spring including coiled portions engaged with said lever intermediate the ends of the lever and having a part engaged with the bearing boss below the end of the lever engaging the hood and having limbs engaged with the end of said lever engaging the plate, said hood urging said lever toward said plate and bearing boss when in closing position and tensioning said spring whereby said spring acts on said lever to hold said plate and said hood in closing position, and means for detachably connecting the end of saidlever engaging said plate to said plate.

6. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including a plate for closing the open side of said journal box, means pivotally connecting the plate to said bearing boss, a hood positioned over said plate and pivotal relative to the plate, means for holding said plate in closing position and including a lever having one end engaged with the plate and the other end engaged with the hood, and a spring including coiled portions engaged with said lever intermediate the ends of the lever and having a part engaged with the bearing boss below the end of the lever engaging the hood and having limbs engaged with the end of said lever engaging the plate, said hood urging said lever toward said plate and bearing boss when in closing position and tensioning said spring whereby said spring acts on said lever to hold said plate and said hood in closing position, the part of said spring engaging said bearing boss having a roller thereon to facilitate movement of said part over said bearing boss when said plate is moved from closing position against the action of said spring.

GEORGE A. WOODMAN. 

